Biden visits Costco

11/29/12 9:42 AM EST

Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Washington, D.C.'s first Costco Thursday on the day of its grand opening.

Biden flashed his Costco card as he entered the store to cheers from employees and shoppers.

Biden used the shopping trip as an opportunity to highlight a recent White House report that estimated going over the fiscal cliff could put a huge dent in consumer spending.

"Consumer confidence is growing, the last thing we need to do is dash that," Biden said. "Folks don't need to see their taxes go up"

"It's important Congress acts now, right now," Biden said.

Biden also told reporters that he was optimistic about the negotiations underway between Congress and the White House.

A White House official said that the Bidens were Costco members in the past, but that they reactivated their membership yesterday.

"They paid the $55 membership re-activation fee to receive their new cards," an official said. "The vice president received his own card which he is carrying today while shopping at Costco."

Biden bought several children's books, fire logs, a 32-inch Panasonic television and a "big" apple pie, according to reporters traveling with the vice president. He also purchased a watch as a gift.

They report that Biden also "availed himself of several Costco food samples and looked like he enjoyed them."

Biden toured the entire store, but refused to be drawn into the tire section — despite the attempts of several employees.

"Hey man, I don't need tires," he said "I don't drive anymore."

Biden was greeted at the store by Costco CEO Craig Jelinek and company co-founder Jim Sinegal, who both attended the grand opening ceremony earlier Thursday.

Sinegal is a long-time Democratic donor. And Susan Brotman,the wife of the other Costco co-founder, was an Obama campaign volunteer fundraiser who helped raise more than $500,000 for his reelection effort.

The new store is located in Fort Lincoln, a neighborhood in the northeast quadrant of the city near the Maryland line.